Dr. Marcia Roye, Lecturer in Biotechnology at The University of the West Indies, Mona recently returned from Paris where she was presented with the L’Oreal-UNESCO Special Fellowship Grant 2011, to mark the centennial of Marie Curie’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Marie Cure is the first woman to have won a Nobel Prize and the only woman to have won in two different sciences, Chemistry and Physics.

Dr. Roye is the recipient of the first Special Fellowship and was selected from among a group of 20 women who received the L’Oreal-UNESCO International Fellowship. She is also the first Jamaican to have received the L’Oreal-UNESCO International Fellowship in 2000 and among over one thousand one hundred (1100) women scientists from 103 countries worldwide to have been distinguished by Awards or supported in the pursuit of their career through the L'OREAL-UNESCO Women in Science partnership.

The Special Fellowship is valued at thirty thousand Euros (30,000) and is in recognition of her distinguished research conducted in the field of plant virology and antiretroviral drug resistance in HIV/AIDS patients and for being a role model to young scientists.
The prestigious award was made by the L'Oréal Corporate Foundation during the International Fellowship Ceremony as part of Women in Science Week. The Fellowship is a part of the thirteen year old L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science programme designed to recognize exceptional women scientists for their contribution to scientific advancement and the societal impact of their research.

For the past 15 years Dr. Roye has been engaged primarily with molecular virology of gemiviruses with special emphasis on identification, distribution, molecular characterization and control of diseases associated with crops and weeds from the Caribbean. Her research has identified numerous plant viruses in Jamaica, Belize, Barbados, Antigua and St. Kitts and Nevis and has played an integral role in the development of control strategies of these plant viruses.

Locally Dr. Roye’s research has resulted in the identification of more than 24 plant viruses associated with plants such as red pea, broad bean, tomato, scotch bonnet pepper, cabbage and common weeds. Her research has been instrumental in facilitating the control of viruses in two crops by cultivation of resistant varieties of tomato and cabbage. This has enabled the local agriculture market to flourish as these plant viruses can cause significant yield loss.

Dr. Roye’s research in viruses has expanded to humans as since 2008 she along with the Institute of Human Virology of the University of Maryland School of Medicine have embarked on research in the detection of antiretroviral (ARV) drug resistance of HIV in Jamaican patients. The research serves to improve ARV treatment and outcome for HIV- affected individuals as well as the quality of life of the HIV patients. In Jamaica where resources to conduct sophisticated laboratory analyses may be deficient Dr. Roye and her team are able to assist by performing viral sequencing of HIV and can provide this vital information to physicians and patients. From the blood samples of individual patients, they are able to sequence the virus and provide very specific information that helps the doctor determine which drug combinations that individual is likely to respond to, so the patient can receive the most effective therapy.

The L’Oreal-UNESCO partnership through the Women in Science Programme seeks to pave the way for a whole new generation of young scientists. This Dr. Roye has done ably not only by sharing her work extensively with colleagues at numerous conferences and through a range of high impact publications, but also through her teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In her capacity as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences at The UWI, Mona she is also strategically positioned to help to guide prospective and current graduate students along their academic path. Marcia Roye has also extended her reach and expertise to CAPE Biology students and teachers by developing and hosting annual workshops on “Concepts in Genetic Engineering” where participants are given training in recombinant DNA technology.

Dr. Roye’s approach to her research is remarkable. She is driven by her desire to impact others by using science to find solutions for people living with HIV, and for farmers, especially since she herself comes from a rural farming community in Jamaica.